tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-203244562024-03-13T20:16:58.300-07:00The Female FundamentalistThe Female Fundamentalist offers both a positive and realistic look at the life and culture of biblical fundamentalism. We hope to provide a stimulating, axiomatic, and fun atmosphere in the discussion of the values associated with this historic movement.Thomas & Heather Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06426641892169880740noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20324456.post-69028875491929692932020-03-10T07:47:00.001-07:002020-03-10T07:47:37.360-07:00What the Grandkids Did<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Generations of Jonathan Edwards’ grandchildren became senators, preachers, and college presidents, according to an oft-cited study contrasting his family line with that of Max Jukes.</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">While some have questioned particular aspects of the study, I find in it at least one interesting correlation—the choices of grandparents upon their descendants should typically impact future generations, for good or bad.</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif;">My recent Bible reading took me to the story of Rehoboam in I Kings 12. </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif;">In this passage, Jeroboam and the people of Israel approach Rehoboam with these words:</span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif;"> “Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee” (verse 4).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><img alt="Image result for grievous yoke" class="n3VNCb" data-noaft="1" height="226" jsaction="load:XAeZkd;" jsname="HiaYvf" src="https://davidmathiraj.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/yoke1.jpg" style="height: 319.2680148105953px; margin: 0px; width: 450.00000000000006px;" width="320" /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">While the older men counsel Rehoboam to be gracious and kind to the people, the young men cry for toughness and greater austerity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Because Rehoboam chooses to side with the young men, rejecting the elder men’s counsel, Israel splits into two nations—the ten tribes in the north and Judah in the south. The nation is divided.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">After Solomon’s prosperous reign, following David’s blessed kingship—in just two generations, the grandson of David and the son of the wisest man who ever lived makes one of the most foolish decisions ever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but the state of independent Baptists in America is precarious. Two generations ago, when those who are now grandparents were in Bible college, a tremendous fervor for evangelism and full-time ministry enflamed many Bible college campuses. Scores of young people descended upon several continents, bearing with them the precious Good News of Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Living a separated life, in which one happily dressed differently from the world, joyfully forsook the world’s pleasures, and wholeheartedly embraced giving out the Gospel—such actions were commonplace. John R. Rice preached against theaters and movie-going. In one Youtube sermon I watched by Lester Roloff, he specifically deals with not frequenting restaurants or shopping anywhere on Sundays to keep the Lord’s Day special. Such preaching would be deemed by many today as legalistic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Galatians specifically warns against legalism, the idea that one must keep the law in order to be saved. Preaching against sin with application, as 2 Timothy 4:2 clearly states is the preacher’s job? That’s not legalism.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Image result for 2 tim 4:2" class="n3VNCb" data-noaft="1" jsaction="load:XAeZkd;" jsname="HiaYvf" src="https://achristianpilgrim.files.wordpress.com/2016/05/2-timotius-4-2.jpg" style="height: 341.25px; margin: 0px; width: 450px;" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I have been amazed to see young people who grew up in independent, separated Baptist churches entirely abandon standards of dress and music they once purported to uphold. Many claim they were just going through some outward motions and never actually embraced these beliefs as their own. They point to perceived failures in the lives of any number of persons and scorn that such standards were ever preached in their hearing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">What of their commitments to Christ, which they made, giving credit to God, in the presence of His precious church?<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-decoration: none; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> What of their testimonies concerning</span> how their lives had been changed by the preaching of the Word to give their lives for the Gospel?<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-decoration: none; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span>What of their requests to host prayer meetings at church members' homes, so they could gather to pray for their friends? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Many such individuals now post on social media and the Internet criticizing the very ministries who embraced them and the preachers who sought to feed them with spiritual food. These dear souls now vent their thoughts with seemingly little regard to biblical injunctions concerning graciousness of speech, truth, biblical love, and honor for God's name. Feelings have replaced facts. Postmodernism has overtaken a generation which just two generations ago upheld biblical standards and longed to saturate communities with the Gospel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">What’s happened? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">While the answers are no doubt numerous, I would offer that history does, in fact, repeat itself; and if we garner any lessons from the story of Rehoboam, we would perhaps understand a similar trend in our own world today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: small;">After all, how could the son of the wisest man who ever lived make such a devastating decision, dividing the entire nation of Israel and reaping division for centuries to come?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/917F9it4OpL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for the surprising work of god" border="0" class="n3VNCb" data-noaft="1" height="320" jsaction="load:XAeZkd;" jsname="HiaYvf" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/917F9it4OpL.jpg" style="height: 572px; margin-top: 0px; width: 371.7303005686434px;" width="208" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;">I’ve been reading in Jonathan Edwards’ </span><i style="text-align: left;">The Surprising Work of God</i><span style="text-align: left;">, his account of the Great Awakening and its impact in New England. He makes several interesting observations concerning the mindset which accompanied this Awakening. Below, I have summarized several of these from his chapters on the conviction of sin: </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">11.)<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i>We are nothing, worms deserving eternal punishment.</i> Keeping such a perspective reminds us of the perfect sovereignty of a holy God and the justness of all that happens to us, whether we perceive it as fair or not. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">22.)<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i>We ought to “dread” the beast of envy and fight against it that it might not invade our thoughts.</i> If envy in any form is allowed, many contested during this great period of God’s working, it tends “to quench the Spirit of God, if not to provoke Him to finally forsake these individuals.” Envy greatly hinders our soul’s good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">33.)<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i>We must replace self-confidence with Spirit-dependence.</i> An absolute trust in God’s perfect ways ought rest in the heart of true seekers of God and a humble acceptance of His sovereignty ought result in the kind of spiritual state that “every mouth may be stopped,” as Romans 3:19 declares. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">44.)<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i>When we truly repent, we will more deeply understand the amazing grace God has offered to sinners and the great debt we owe to this God</i>, for whom we can offer nothing of our own but plead the blood of Christ alone. “Nothing in my hands I bring; simply to Thy cross I cling”—such is the spirit of those who embrace their utter helplessness, resting in the perfect Sovereign God, however He chooses to work in their lives.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlo4yv97LIXjwkhkR-99SrxDj6S7yyyKZ2z9mmCBptI3a4kDBVLqZ_Ql5Fdo4xv4L21wf9KuVfg2pou-rWAK2DQMxEll1rBZoaEhun86tLQjthe5WMbRBlO5maXJxTATPGBS5_yQ/s1600/1776292-George-Washington-Quote-Associate-with-men-of-good-quality-if-you.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlo4yv97LIXjwkhkR-99SrxDj6S7yyyKZ2z9mmCBptI3a4kDBVLqZ_Ql5Fdo4xv4L21wf9KuVfg2pou-rWAK2DQMxEll1rBZoaEhun86tLQjthe5WMbRBlO5maXJxTATPGBS5_yQ/s320/1776292-George-Washington-Quote-Associate-with-men-of-good-quality-if-you.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">In Rehoboam’s story, we notice his dependence on his own way, as seen in his seeking out counsel which seemed pleasing to his ears. Rather than trust the wisdom of God as shown through his father in multitudes of proverbs, Rehoboam trusts his own ideas, going to his friends for their opinions. Instead of heeding the advice of the older men, as advocated in the Word of God, he asks for new ideas and direction from his peers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">By and large, with the growth of social media, friends have become a profound source of input into individuals’ lives. Instead of trusting the eternal truth of God’s Word, too many today seem to be looking at what others are doing or saying and following the cues they receive from fallen creatures living in a fallen world, instead of heeding the eternal revelation from those who faithfully follow an eternal book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">While grandparents can impact the direction of their families, it is up to individuals to nurture their walk with God, to develop the kind of heart soil in which God’s Spirit can work—living with a mind renewed with the Word of God that trusts His sovereignty in all settings. I wonder, if Rehoboam had set his heart to follow truth, how would his response to the people have been different? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="text-align: center;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjznq40CEqcTGHaHSI0Q1P6HkZHUZPGK6g6eM3g1qHxHbubXmxcGDrEwDVUgReow7hbTyB5ds_NdbjePIpC6o9SLN5JqhcBb7cV3CPPvuo41DYnLUuh04mXVFuOQwgWWp2l4pDtYw/s1600/open+bible.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="139" data-original-width="364" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjznq40CEqcTGHaHSI0Q1P6HkZHUZPGK6g6eM3g1qHxHbubXmxcGDrEwDVUgReow7hbTyB5ds_NdbjePIpC6o9SLN5JqhcBb7cV3CPPvuo41DYnLUuh04mXVFuOQwgWWp2l4pDtYw/s320/open+bible.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">I, for one, have had to purpose in my heart that, in this day of social media, I will be more impacted by God’s truth than by the thoughts of man. How grateful I am for a friend who last year reminded me of the importance of reading through God's Word and keeping track of the number of chapters read. Too often, we think we read more than we do! My goal is to read / listen through the Word three times this year. I desperately need the truth of God to permeate my thinking; I need His Book to shape my perspective. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">And, in a day when churches are too often weakening, I want to be faithful to the end. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">For it is only as God’s Word informs our thinking that we can be daily renewed with God’s mindset, seeing with faith's vision until eternity!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: small; text-indent: 0px;"></span></div>
<style class="WebKit-mso-list-quirks-style">
<!--
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoListParagraph, li.MsoListParagraph, div.MsoListParagraph
{mso-style-priority:34;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst
{mso-style-priority:34;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle
{mso-style-priority:34;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
p.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast
{mso-style-priority:34;
mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-type:export-only;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
/* List Definitions */
@list l0
{mso-list-id:1709336690;
mso-list-type:hybrid;
mso-list-template-ids:-1716193060 1208093188 67698713 67698715 67698703 67698713 67698715 67698703 67698713 67698715;}
@list l0:level1
{mso-level-text:"%1\.\)";
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
@list l0:level2
{mso-level-number-format:alpha-lower;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
@list l0:level3
{mso-level-number-format:roman-lower;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:right;
text-indent:-9.0pt;}
@list l0:level4
{mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
@list l0:level5
{mso-level-number-format:alpha-lower;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
@list l0:level6
{mso-level-number-format:roman-lower;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:right;
text-indent:-9.0pt;}
@list l0:level7
{mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
@list l0:level8
{mso-level-number-format:alpha-lower;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;}
@list l0:level9
{mso-level-number-format:roman-lower;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:right;
text-indent:-9.0pt;}
-->
</style></div>
Thomas & Heather Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06426641892169880740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20324456.post-86750556002080647432017-09-05T06:48:00.000-07:002017-09-05T06:48:38.337-07:00Modest Apparel: For the Glory of God<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Many believers today stand against cultural norms in apparel not for the purpose of looking different or strange but for the purpose of honoring and glorifying God.<br />
<br />
I am grateful for preachers, like my own, who continue to plant themselves firmly against
the world in areas in which others are not willing to “go that far.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I appreciate those who have continued to take a stand against women wearing
men’s apparel, as mentioned in my previous post. I likewise appreciate the freedom which comes from seeking to glorify God in both our bodies and our spirits, "which are God's" (I Cor. 6:19-20). One way Christian women can glorify God is by dressing modestly, which includes times spent swimming in the company of
the opposite gender.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQS5vNl4Lc_rhkd6gNwRajEHFN6GgU-2zpQMCkSvTdiFc6wDfEK5Y3WUO9b_sPrt6H6ejl2XQn-j8vQAJeQTdSW7tzI8CNSCqj2f-w-QnOqiOifTDrhXICh9MPd7yh-wW93b8kxA/s1600/Still+Standing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="244" data-original-width="325" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQS5vNl4Lc_rhkd6gNwRajEHFN6GgU-2zpQMCkSvTdiFc6wDfEK5Y3WUO9b_sPrt6H6ejl2XQn-j8vQAJeQTdSW7tzI8CNSCqj2f-w-QnOqiOifTDrhXICh9MPd7yh-wW93b8kxA/s320/Still+Standing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
In a world that is anti-God
and anti-Bible, we do well to consider the history of clothing in our culture and to investigate, in a Berean-like manner, the mind of God
on the subject of modesty in apparel. </div>
<br />
I'm thankful for a dad who willingly studied
the Scriptures for himself in these areas and did not fail to teach such truths to his children. When I was about five years old, I learned for the first time the freedom of obedience in this area of biblical modesty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><br />
<br />
As I heard the Scriptures presented, I embraced these truths for myself. Covering one’s body with modest apparel never seemed a stretch to me, for such teaching was clearly that of Scripture (I Tim. 2:9).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later, when I got into high school, I began
to fight a little bit on the exact standard of where that modesty was (which
I’ll describe in a later post) but this issue of covering one’s body, even when swimming in mixed company, made sense to me.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
While many today assert that grace teaches we can dress as we please, God's Word explains what grace actually teaches--that we are to deny worldly lusts. I would contend that such strong desires include our own desire to fit into the world in areas such as apparel (Titus 2:12). Grace liberates us to behold freedom in Christ--not rules or bondage. Such freedom has its root in obedience to His Spirit and results from looking into God's Word and habitually living it out. Second
Corinthians 3:16-18 illustrates this beautifully—
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Nevertheless when [their heart] shall
turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is,
there is liberty.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But we all, with open face
beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image
from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3aE-uZgRDK2O_nWkOtLmqW4F7UneCkx3oZsyXXS4FateLvQ4elk1AFOB4BvJYb__7pWGEty2WwcjkCzEOKfxCd5iUHzojRqILog-HWwuNrq4IplfoyXvAG7XmygDnFqF7z7n7-g/s1600/Freedom-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="650" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3aE-uZgRDK2O_nWkOtLmqW4F7UneCkx3oZsyXXS4FateLvQ4elk1AFOB4BvJYb__7pWGEty2WwcjkCzEOKfxCd5iUHzojRqILog-HWwuNrq4IplfoyXvAG7XmygDnFqF7z7n7-g/s320/Freedom-4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This freeing Spirit transforms us into the image of our redemption-loving Lord!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As sinners sunken in despair, we can be both
lifted from the miry clay and transformed into the likeness of our
Redeemer! Indeed, we who were bought with a price—the precious blood of
Christ—ought take seriously our obligation to “glorify God in our bodies and
our spirits, which are God’s.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">One woman blogger ridicules IFB women, who--she says--cover “nearly every square inch of flesh.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She asserts this practice illustrates that these women are ashamed of
their bodies--t<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">hat they're not free.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Bible, however, describes shame
as being first illustrated in a Garden where a man and woman broke fellowship
with the God of the Universe after having sinned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When they recognized the sin, they covered
their naked bodies the best they knew how—in fig leaves, probably similar to
the kind of covering one would observe on today’s beaches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But God covered their nakedness with
modest coats of skin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The blood sacrifice of an
animal illustrated that Christ’s blood is needed for forgiveness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God's covering showed not only the divine
standard of covering but also pictured salvation—when one’s sins have been covered, he
is clothed in the righteousness of Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4V_AU9g0EWG3OVRHGyo57hpNKuzLSFkTTW9NU-TvctQ3NfPdB2P1d6-PMyybfYDEg3lSXJN9fPk-OChyeC6MhOi1i77UFtmHPTy-fjBG8JpZv2wA-JoHCn_H5zjlE3yGhWU_hdg/s1600/clothed-in-righteousness-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4V_AU9g0EWG3OVRHGyo57hpNKuzLSFkTTW9NU-TvctQ3NfPdB2P1d6-PMyybfYDEg3lSXJN9fPk-OChyeC6MhOi1i77UFtmHPTy-fjBG8JpZv2wA-JoHCn_H5zjlE3yGhWU_hdg/s320/clothed-in-righteousness-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So, clothing and covering illustrate
the Gospel.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">That’s why this issue of modesty,
or covering, matters.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">At its heart is not a bunch of
outward standards but a picture of the cross.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We can’t forget this.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As believers, our bodies are temples
of the Holy Spirit, housing the third
person of the Trinity!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As such dwelling places of God Himself, our bodies are to be covered in “shamefacedness and sobriety” (I Tim. 2:9). This
is a choice of obedience we can make each day.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Dressing in modest apparel is a
New Testament commandment and would rule out a great deal of wardrobe choices offered
in popular culture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Adherence to this principle would likewise
rule out wearing traditional swimming suits at the beach. The biblical standard of modesty ought be followed, whether one is in the water or out of it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So how do I respond when I hear of
other believers engaging in the practice of mixed swimming?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I don’t look down at them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I just wonder if they understand
that it is a noble thing for women to obey God’s command to “dress in modest
apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety” (I Tim. 2:9)—even in such places where the culture dresses differently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Believing women are princesses of the great I AM and are “all glorious
within” (Psalm 45:13).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1t3oFQ86wzuepzu2IDDV3xKb2b5vY9orHpXPUnHuxdoMy9L0qLboyB9mSGqBXQAgnt1o9G6lfmiJvT0POg2xeuZIYfjRWqPTXhyWWkBf2NhSy2Waqh3PjBdaGmFAvQTWbOAZvg/s1600/367729b013075306cbd167ccf4141bd7--psalm--christian-marriage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="462" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1t3oFQ86wzuepzu2IDDV3xKb2b5vY9orHpXPUnHuxdoMy9L0qLboyB9mSGqBXQAgnt1o9G6lfmiJvT0POg2xeuZIYfjRWqPTXhyWWkBf2NhSy2Waqh3PjBdaGmFAvQTWbOAZvg/s320/367729b013075306cbd167ccf4141bd7--psalm--christian-marriage.jpg" width="246" /></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As such, the King’s daughters care about the
inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They want to please God in their
spirit—which isn’t a self-indulgent spirit but one that reflects the mind of
Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They look to find God’s mind at the heart of the issue and then willingly, joyfully obey--allowing their
presupposition to be, “Let God be true and every man a liar” (Romans 3:4). </span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The princess of the great I AM looks
to the God of the Universe on culturally uncool issues like apparel and takes her cue, not
from the unsaved culture about her, but from His Word, for her lifestyle is grounded upon obedience to
God’s Word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She views modesty as an
issue to be determined from God’s definition--not her own and not culture’s.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I appreciate those who study this
issue in-depth and have produced mammoth volumes describing nuances of words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, having been raised in a Bible-preaching
IFB church, where standards of modesty were embraced and mixed swimming was preached
against—I must say, I get it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I
don’t ever remember rejecting the truth of this area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted to cover my body, because I saw it
is as a good thing reflecting God's standard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later, I
began to see that it pictures the Gospel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In a day of compromise and
rejection of biblical standards of apparel, those who stand against the world’s way when swimming in mixed company are considered “old-fashioned,” out of
date, and far from relevant, I contend that believing women ought to accept and embrace the biblical definition of covering and modesty in apparel. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Many IFB women joyfully wear modest
apparel when swimming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t feel
restricted to cover our bodies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, we are
grateful to dress in a way that honors God.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Not to earn favor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But to obey.</span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">You see, obedience in each area of life, even in what we wear, is about our relationship with God. It's not about about adherence to some outward
rules of man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s about loving God and
wanting to please Him Who gave His all for us--even in areas that are
culturally uncool.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And that’s ok.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Because it’s not about us anyway.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It’s about our Savior...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">His Gospel.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And His glory.</span></div>
</div>
Thomas & Heather Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06426641892169880740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20324456.post-4262971579255408642017-08-14T08:27:00.002-07:002017-08-30T03:56:19.136-07:00Free Indeed<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpiGKZuB_WvvSASQA0HjslGy5lYeP8v4HVgXKEj3ANr_j9ZK8XdtxVbUXue-23nRkJayhE-_84A-wgKpzCzoe7IMrpKJS8Gez5Aie65ojwA1mSmqkidUC1kJt6glcZFcg7rMI6fA/s1600/freedom.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="236" data-original-width="350" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpiGKZuB_WvvSASQA0HjslGy5lYeP8v4HVgXKEj3ANr_j9ZK8XdtxVbUXue-23nRkJayhE-_84A-wgKpzCzoe7IMrpKJS8Gez5Aie65ojwA1mSmqkidUC1kJt6glcZFcg7rMI6fA/s320/freedom.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<style> <!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:128;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:128;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073743103 0 0 415 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-size:10.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-fareast-language:JA;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style> There is a great deal of negative speech abroad on the
Internet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kind of thing that calls
Independent, Fundamental Baptist (IFB) homes and churches part of a cult, insinuating that confrontational preaching in fundamental churches is verbal abuse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These blogs and articles are frequently written by disgruntled
individuals who believe they have finally found freedom after having been inundated with cult-like dogmas most of their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> From my own observation, it seems a great number of these "finally freed" individuals are women. And so, as a woman happily serving in an IFB church, I would like to answer a few charges against the criticism. Such entries may be extended over time, but I hope to satisfactorily and Scripturally deal with some of these allegations. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
One woman claims to have had to put on a face for years in
her IFB church, staying under the radar, just obeying the rules, but inwardly
chafing the entire time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She felt
coerced into tithing and, when she was first able to try on a pair of jeans and
walk around another town far from her own, she felt free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just taking a walk through the city brought
her immense exhilaration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
She asserts that true freedom in the greatest sense is found
outside IFB churches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
But she and others preach a message that I don’t embrace—based both upon God’s Word and my own experience.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The problems with this woman's analysis are many.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I speak, firstly, from experience. </span>Having been born and raised in an IFB home myself, I felt great freedom to be me—in the context of the Word of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I went out to do farm chores at 5:30 in the
morning, I inhaled fresh air and cherished the freedom to consider ideas for
myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would feed the animals and, in
the winter months, as I glanced up at the stars, would frequently spend moments marveling that the same
God who formed Abraham and promised by Himself to send a Savior into the world
was yet that same God who saw us, who loved the fledgling congregation in my town, who
knew every problem and understood every need, who offered Himself freely to me
each day in His Word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZK5qJ9uJ5rtyU9G2hVI7Y9SgOvrvEpFiCgWn_-TrNhu4Asxu2l2PqQxLB6gKay-rDeem1uayAQq-ylKLtRF4LqUMoIyOsVAd2blqClBI6MruA8-rrtBKkqkTZpqXaHDE6e7quoA/s1600/sign-eternity-goes-on-forever.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="1033" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZK5qJ9uJ5rtyU9G2hVI7Y9SgOvrvEpFiCgWn_-TrNhu4Asxu2l2PqQxLB6gKay-rDeem1uayAQq-ylKLtRF4LqUMoIyOsVAd2blqClBI6MruA8-rrtBKkqkTZpqXaHDE6e7quoA/s320/sign-eternity-goes-on-forever.jpg" width="320" /></a> I remember, as a 1<sup>st</sup>
grader, stopping and pondering eternity—the immensity and never-ending nature
of that forever place where everyone would live somewhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seemed a circle to me and held me in
its grasp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To think that the
God who inhabits eternity would love me, would give Himself for me, would call
me to Himself to worship Him!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
privilege!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
My parents were true servants, and I loved the freedom I had
to work with them repairing the old farmhouse we moved into.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was just a young girl at the time but I
clearly remember waking up one morning and asking my dad, “Can I wear slacks
today?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
To which he replied, “Yes.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
We were on the journey to abandon trousers
from the girls' wardrobes of our home, but I wanted to make sure it was ok before
I went outside wearing them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew Dad
wanted me to dress like a lady.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that
was ok.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I still liked my slacks.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Then there was the time in 1<sup>st</sup> grade when all the
other girls in my PE class at school were wearing jeans and I, trying to be more lady-like,
wore a dress over my slacks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My teacher
had me tuck in my dress so that I could do the exercises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But in that environment, I began to feel odd about
not wearing jeans and a t-shirt to PE, so I would wear them—by this time my
parents had said the girls in our family were going to stop wearing slacks as an outer garment—under a long coat, so
that if my sister were out for recess, she would not be able to see me with them
on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Then one day, as we sat at dinner, I confessed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had been wearing slacks to P.E.,
I told my parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But from now on I
would wear culottes to PE or just keep the slacks on under my dress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my heart, I determined that I would wear
slacks in the regular way when I got to be 18.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then I would have my own way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Until then,
I would want to wear them in my heart even if I outwardly conformed to the
rules.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_Nujjr3X0xp_rJmhPOm0s_-0O2LOzQtD_BE_-z8tTQtm8QtIy-QpkaD92lx1whmjrwPKS32lyssT5-F_O7LAxfyPHllqNVRQMR3ywatqzLrRW_wbtpJcYTORNzR45rH_k6ahhg/s1600/3cd7346aa9c2913e293cc9c9d1c0369d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="172" data-original-width="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_Nujjr3X0xp_rJmhPOm0s_-0O2LOzQtD_BE_-z8tTQtm8QtIy-QpkaD92lx1whmjrwPKS32lyssT5-F_O7LAxfyPHllqNVRQMR3ywatqzLrRW_wbtpJcYTORNzR45rH_k6ahhg/s1600/3cd7346aa9c2913e293cc9c9d1c0369d.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
But I didn’t reckon with one thing that day as a seven-year-old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Holy Spirit of God began to work on my
spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He began to show me that
“rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft and stubbornness as iniquity and
idolatry" (I Sam. 15:23).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even more, He opened
my eyes to other truths of His Word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
sixth grade, I read the Bible through for myself and in 7<sup>th</sup> grade, I
had firm conviction concerning my apparel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I believed that it was a sin for a woman to dress in men’s apparel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While many argued that “Well, they all wore
robes” in biblical times, so “It’s ok if women wear slacks today,” God had
convinced my own spirit that to “wear that which pertains to a man” (Deut. 22:5) would be to
wear what has been traditionally male apparel in our Western culture—slacks, whether or not they were
in the men’s or women’s section of the store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
While I have had to continually consider the Scriptures
related to this issue—God often commands us to “Remember” in His Word—I have,
by God’s grace, held to this position since I was 12 years old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Held to it not because I was forced into it,
but because the God of Heaven writes His laws in the hearts of His children. I held firmly to
it—not looking down on others for wearing trousers, for I had been there at one
time—but understanding that, as for me and my conscience, my relationship with
God—I would obey His Word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that is
what it is for me. It’s not some sort of freedom to indulge in something other
than what God has convinced me from His Word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
is the kind of God I serve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He longs for
people who are emptied of self so that He might fill their hearts with His
Word. And, Oh--how I need His filling every day to make me echo the words of the song writer, "None of self and all of Thee!"</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black;">Isaiah 66:2 is one of my favorite
verses—“<i>For all those <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">things</span> hath
mine hand made, and all those <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">things</span>
have been, saith the LORD: but to this <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">man</span> will I look,</i></span><span style="color: black;"><i> <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">even</span>
to <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">him that is</span> poor and of a contrite
spirit, and<b> trembleth at my word</b>.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
freedom-preaching bloggers frequently fail to exposit Scripture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I look into the Word, I see the Word
leading and guiding my every decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
see that it is incredibly called what many might view as an oxymoron—a “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">law</b> of
liberty”--and not only that, a <b>perfect law</b> of liberty!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNdT98BosxmtUAsApgXQT7Ad4AqswB3tBkl6xvMyh74wCEbgxq7Xp0rzA7q9BFH38KM46BShbdiLrEOUfC9_OAniBwkKV5O8sz1jcQBroQdU6i8lNvskewXB8RH_XbvZhAzlTvZw/s1600/IMG_8483.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNdT98BosxmtUAsApgXQT7Ad4AqswB3tBkl6xvMyh74wCEbgxq7Xp0rzA7q9BFH38KM46BShbdiLrEOUfC9_OAniBwkKV5O8sz1jcQBroQdU6i8lNvskewXB8RH_XbvZhAzlTvZw/s320/IMG_8483.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></i></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="color: black;">“But whoso looketh into the perfect law</span></i><span style="color: black;"><i> of liberty, and continueth <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">therein</span>, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work,
this man shall be blessed in his deed" </i>(James 1:25).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Certainly, the freedom God offers in His word is found in a law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that law is perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the law of liberty<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">, for </span>God has always wanted us to be free—in
Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black;">The psalmist knew this God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he wrote:</span><span style="color: black;"><i> </i></span><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“I will behave myself wisely in a
perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I will walk within my house with a
perfect heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I will set <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">no</b> wicked thing before mine eyes: I <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">hate</b> the work of them that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">turn aside</b>; <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">it</span> shall not cleave to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
froward heart <b>shall depart</b> from me: </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">will
not know</b> a wicked <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">person</span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whoso <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">privily
slandereth his neighbour</b>, him will I cut off: him that hath an <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">high look and a proud heart</b> will not I
suffer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Mine eyes <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">shall be</span> upon the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">faithful</b>
of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he
shall serve me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "cambria"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house</b>: he <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">that telleth lies </b>shall not tarry in my
sight.” (Psalm 101:2-7).</span></i><span style="color: black;"></span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black;">One lady writes of the freedom she
has now to do what she wants after suffering near PTSD symptoms after leaving
her IFB congregation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But God’s perfect
law is the law of liberty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Psalm 101
tells us that this law results in a lifestyle that does not embrace anything that opposes God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No wicked thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">slanderers
</b>even.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The discomfort these bloggers feel from confrontational preaching is so frequently
applied to a man of God who is merely teaching the Word of
God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It saddens my heart that these
bloggers fail to discern the voice of God’s Holy Spirit. Isaiah, Jeremiah,
Ezekiel—these prophets were refused because the people discarded the messenger
and failed to understand the truth of God’s Word. And yet, through these sometimes awkward preachers, God delivers truth throughout His Word.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
No preacher of God is perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But my own preacher—my father in an IFB
congregation— loves God and His Word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Truth matters to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A lot. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After listening to his sermons, I am so often encouraged to take God at His Word, to spend more of my week reading and pondering the Bible, to
spend more time of my day with Jesus in prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those kinds of
messages help to drive me to the Sovereign God of the Universe, the eternal God
who loved me with an everlasting love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdpZg2YHFJcDIJGttcxN9LMGkDeoCRJ2vp_sQiXh-G0cINHX3OdgksXQ_42t6qW_sa4RJ0Qp7nqKbnT4MTgeEstoKGfYgtac0_8R_7Yx7AffakjpOLrkiHyqVy610QSoNYJL7XQ/s1600/Summer+2004+Spain+Photo+House.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdpZg2YHFJcDIJGttcxN9LMGkDeoCRJ2vp_sQiXh-G0cINHX3OdgksXQ_42t6qW_sa4RJ0Qp7nqKbnT4MTgeEstoKGfYgtac0_8R_7Yx7AffakjpOLrkiHyqVy610QSoNYJL7XQ/s320/Summer+2004+Spain+Photo+House.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taken in Spain, in 2004</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
My parents gave me a lot of freedom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could drive at 16.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I traveled overseas to several European
countries, often by myself, before I was married.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I loved exploring new places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But when I saw new things and explored new
countries, I couldn’t help but see souls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All around me, people were dying and going to hell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every person was a soul created in the image
of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It filled my heart with a desire
for missions—to see missionaries raised up to go all over the globe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a beautiful world, a complex world,
but it is a fallen world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, as such,
it demands that people reach it with the Gospel, for that is God’s heart
cry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus Himself, the Word, came to
“seek and to save that which is lost" (Luke 19:10).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Sometimes I’ve struggled with the balance between a fervor
for souls, as we see in the Apostle Paul, and moments in which we are to enjoy
all things God gives us –something Paul writes to Timothy while he himself
was suffering the deprivations of hunger, being bound in the
Mamertime Prison in Rome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that
doesn’t mean I’m not free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It means I’m
experiencing the tension of a Christian in the world but not of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My home is not here but in heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Abraham, I am merely a sojourner here.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3aWs41x6-vMUkrO0ENoQlb41JPzVZHuI1xK5TpJS6rr77YCAwz5DQwUAD6AOFkDcL_8DWpUR2RSynoyulwzdvV6KlCk0PlrBom4S5xSW4F7aXStpR_D2AjJUIEtJJ7fh8dHgb2g/s1600/Summer+2004+Woman+in+House+in+Spain.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3aWs41x6-vMUkrO0ENoQlb41JPzVZHuI1xK5TpJS6rr77YCAwz5DQwUAD6AOFkDcL_8DWpUR2RSynoyulwzdvV6KlCk0PlrBom4S5xSW4F7aXStpR_D2AjJUIEtJJ7fh8dHgb2g/s320/Summer+2004+Woman+in+House+in+Spain.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another photo, taken in Spain, 2004</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
I love to travel, having been to about twenty different
countries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Opportunities such as these have allowed me to explore the world and have given me freedom to write and to reflect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
But at salvation, I was given the most important freedom--the freedom found in Christ. It is this freedom which I greatly cherish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
fact, I find that one of the most fulfilling things I can do in a day is to share
with others the Gospel, for a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">t</span> salvation, Christ gives us a heart to see others redeemed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Please be ware of false teachers in the form of
“freedom-preaching” bloggers who assert that IFB churches offer no
freedom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> When</span> Jesus Christ redeems you, He makes you free
<b>indeed</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He offers a completely different
perspective on life, found in the perfect law of liberty, His Word. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Tithing, for example, is a joy, for life is not about pleasing ourselves, not about following our own way but about letting the God Who has redeemed us shape us through His Word that we may please and glorify Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Truly, great freedom
exists<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <b>i</b></span><b>n Christ.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><b> </b> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black;">In the words of John 8:36,</span><span style="color: black;"> "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed"!</span><span style="color: black;"></span></div>
</div>
Thomas & Heather Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06426641892169880740noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20324456.post-72440827337948013762014-06-08T13:57:00.001-07:002014-06-08T14:00:06.627-07:00Do We Really Love? (Part Three)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWO0p6BFeqpxDNkgHcIdSgos143WIweEXFNPwbJGNQjvBooucy1w-M1H4MQrKdWL8aZSxIwcDK7lGZ6IQRxVkoPXQqJkX9sPTzmtlez9zulHkD7cTX4aENcoFQow948TRqwFU7kw/s1600/hope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWO0p6BFeqpxDNkgHcIdSgos143WIweEXFNPwbJGNQjvBooucy1w-M1H4MQrKdWL8aZSxIwcDK7lGZ6IQRxVkoPXQqJkX9sPTzmtlez9zulHkD7cTX4aENcoFQow948TRqwFU7kw/s1600/hope.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
CHARITY . . . HOPETH ALL THINGS (I CORINTHIANS 13:7)</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Garamond;">According to Thayer, the Greek word <i>elpizo</i> (translated hope in the above verse) means, "in a religious sense, to wait for salvation with joy and full confidence." This kind of hope encompasses the idea of assured expectation of a future event. True, Biblical love, then, views the most impossible situations with
the eyes of faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It looks upon
the seeming hopelessness of surroundings and sees an omnipotent, omniscient,
and omnipresent God.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Baskerville;">Some time ago, I considered what a
different place this world would be if we would see advertised</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Baskerville;">upon the road of
life billboards displaying products for a Heavenly Kingdom. One such company I envisioned was Faithwear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Its commercials might go something like
this:</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Baskerville;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Baskerville;">“Put on Faithwear’s glasses and
change your perspective!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ll
see the world with much clearer vision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Not only will every blade of grass and each twinkling star magnify the Original Designer, but so will your daily tasks be transformed as you encounter a fresh
view of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look upon your every
task and each relationship and perceive our glorious Creator, Who has revealed
Himself in each aspect of His creation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Baskerville;">“Mothers, see those children to
whom you minister as strong in God’s service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Working women, see those frustrating moments in your daily
schedule as opportunities to praise God—to rejoice because God’s mercies are
better than life itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Children,
see every rebuke as a correction of love, offered to you from heaven, borne
from God’s own throne.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Baskerville;">“Our new brand of hearing aids
assist you in perceiving with the ears of faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mothers, hear not the crying infant nor the complaining
child, but the voice of the Master saying, ‘I was in all points tempted as you
are, yet without sin.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Baskerville;">“You’ll be amazed at how our
products transform the senses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
try some to day! And the fantastic part of all our specialty goods is that they
will cost you nothing but a willing mind, a broken spirit, and a contrite
heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pay no money, but offer
yourself as a living sacrifice, willing to enjoy God’s perspective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Faith comes by hearing (hence you must
have the right heart attitude), and hearing by the Word of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, once you’re outfitted with the
right spirit, taste and see that the Lord is good!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Investigate His Word, meditate upon it, live it, and you,
too, will be transformed by Faithwear!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Baskerville;">“Faithwear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t live life without it.”</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Baskerville;">But instead of Faithwear, the sight
perspective, the sensual, crowds upon our lives, drowning out the message of
faith, the perspective which truly satisfies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I see with the eyes of faith, I note not the Peter who
doubted Christ nor the disciple who denied him but I see instead the martyr who
hung upside down upon a cross, meekly offering his body, refusing to die in the
same way as his Lord and Master.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Every student of mine I view, not as a discouraged, discontented, or
rebellious teen but rather as a vibrant, victorious Christian, slaying the
enemy in daily life by the sword of the spirit, which he grasps firmly
in hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Baskerville;">I look past the difficulties of
this turbulent world, the sea upon which heaps of discarded, wasted lives have
been cast—and see that beautiful potential which Christ has for every life, a
pathway of peace, which He desires for each of His own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Facebook searches occasionally yield discouraging
realities of the direction individuals have chosen, but instead of being
overcome by the unbiblical decisions of people to whom I once ministered, I can
view all with the eyes of faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The hopeful sees that, “But for the grace of God, there go I.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She understands that if Christ’s
best earthly friend denied Him, I too have the possibility of doing so and likewise<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span> realizes that the flesh is
strong, for even Lot himself vexed his righteous soul from day to day, living
among the sinners in Sodom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The one whose hope is steadfast in God is satisfied—ultimately, from God Alone—realizing that no sensual
feeling can replace the solid relationship of a walk with the Almighty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Baskerville;">When Discouragement rears its
misshapen head, when Defeat casts down its deathly gaze, when Despair tears in,
tantamount to her temper, the one infused with agape love eats, satisfied, at the table of
Wisdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christ has furnished His
table, mingled His wine, and set abundant provisions for those who recognize
their need to dine there!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has
built His house and prepared an abundant spread for His hungry guests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His bread and beverages satisfy,
contrasting with the fodder of fools, the taste of which leaves only a mouthful
of gravel. (Prov. 20:17).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Baskerville;">Oh, to seek the Lord at His table
each day, to recognize our inadequacy, our inability, our insufficiency!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This recognition is part of that hopefulness which is part of love, for the one imbued with such hope realizes she has no strength in herself and thus seeks the
Lord, finding Him satisfactory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After dining at His table, she notes that the fruits of folly look less
attractive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The delicacies of the
devil appear as they are—not delicious, but deceitful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That sinful thought is smitten by
recalling a personal feast at His table, and praise daily perfumes her breath
as those moments with her dear Savior linger in her memory, for she has dined
with Him, her Satisfaction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Baskerville;">Dear Sister, is this your
state?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you revel in God’s
meditations?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you find yourself
often encouraged by His Word?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like
the psalmist, can you pray, “Remember the word unto Thy servant, upon which
Thou has caused me to hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
is my comfort in my affliction, for Thy word hath quickened me” (Ps.
119:49-50)?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Upon what word is your
hope today?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This abundance of
wisdom is available to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Feast
at the Savior’s table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let your
hungry soul be satisfied.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How your
heart will live forever when Christ is your daily Bread! Your heart, sound in
God’s statutes, will live; you will be unashamed when you stand before Him if
this feast is your daily reality (Ps. 119:80)!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Baskerville;">And this love, which hopes all things, will emanate from a heart saturated by the One Who is Eternal Love! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Thomas & Heather Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06426641892169880740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20324456.post-54517140437374978152014-03-15T20:52:00.002-07:002014-03-15T20:57:10.676-07:00Do We Really Love? (Part Two)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1W_UVzXI8qCGOo4rM9rKhOOTSlMOnjiHt-dyd6k8EiFeLfIBaaYyo9o5Ku8KfNh9_U3ERGqOLvO_f91nyICVkoAZc87_zW7jMX6_82HNLO82vfhbtMeqe2x9Ef2KbK20Wv56NaA/s1600/8:11+Dining+Room+at+Meacham+St.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1W_UVzXI8qCGOo4rM9rKhOOTSlMOnjiHt-dyd6k8EiFeLfIBaaYyo9o5Ku8KfNh9_U3ERGqOLvO_f91nyICVkoAZc87_zW7jMX6_82HNLO82vfhbtMeqe2x9Ef2KbK20Wv56NaA/s1600/8:11+Dining+Room+at+Meacham+St.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<style> </style>The house was barren, stripped of all furniture except a
small table lamp that illuminated the living room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was December when my husband and I walked through the
antiquated home for the first time, thin orange carpet, loosely laid, gathering
and folding with many of our steps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The place would need a lot of work, and we weren’t actually considering
purchasing—not seriously, at least.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But a month later, it was a done deal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The day after we closed on the house, we began the work of
gutting out that orange carpet, painting the dulled walls, and transforming the
place into the vision we had for it.
<br />
<br />
When we first saw it, that home off Main Street in our
little town felt empty, devoid of human spirit and personality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure, the remnants of homemade curtains
still hung on certain windows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
wallpaper hinted at the taste of the daughters who had selected it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But those people were all gone now, or
at least had moved on to another place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After purchasing the house, it was our joy to spend time making it a
home once again.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That house before inhabitants reminds me of the emptiness
which can occur in the lives of believers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s reflected in lifeless hymn singing, dullness to hearing
God’s Word, and an apathetic ministry with others.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lifeless Christianity is an oxymoron, for Jesus is a risen
and living Lord Who affects the spirit of those He indwells.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jim Eliot once said, “Wherever you are,
be all there.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A passion that
consumes us, a wisdom that balances us, a love that enlivens us—such spiritual
vitality can resonate from our souls when we are in love with Jesus
Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But that is the rub.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>To be in love with Him is essential before we can in any way be
effective in loving others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
yet, too often our ministry can be a sham, for it is not sourced in His
love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God wrote the Manual on
Love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How our ministries must
reflect that love!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How that agape
kind of love must perfume every relationship!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How this selfless love should envelop all our service, so
that we are merely stepping in the footsteps of the One Who is Love.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When we fail to follow Love’s leadership along the path of
life, we will feel the emptiness, the hollowness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will begin to doubt God’s perfect love for us and
question the service He has sanctified for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In turn, that faithless focus will affect others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Living in unbelief will quench the
fires of love for others, turning our ministry gaze to focus upon the sin, meanwhile
failing to adequately view the kind of love God has for the individual sinner. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But living in the reality of Him—that is where love begins
and continues, for every act performed from a heart of love never fails but
rather brings forth eternal fruit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He is All-Sufficient, my source of wisdom, my strength in weakness, my
Savior from woe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How intimately do
I know Him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Obey Him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does He have my waking moments?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does He have my time?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do I freely give Him all things, as He
freely gave for me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Withholding minutes from the One who gave His life for me
screams “Insensible!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Claiming my
rights when He yielded up His own entirely shouts, “Illogical!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Failing to love others wholeheartedly
when He loves them absolutely yells, “Insensitive!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
False fronts gone, stripped of all our own ways, in step
with the Spirit, we can be the channels of love which God originally
intended.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rights in hand,
time our own, failing to abide in God’s Word and spend moments reveling in His
goodness, we will block the Love which God desires to send through us to
others--from Him!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Oh, let us not be weary in continuing our daily time with
Him, in spending seasons of prayer alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Let us not fail of God’s grace in this fellowship with Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In due season we shall reap a harvest
brought about by God alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Faint
not, Christian!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your
All-Sufficient One has love enough for you!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">--Heather Ross </span></div>
</div>
Thomas & Heather Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06426641892169880740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20324456.post-66679459093501969472014-02-17T10:55:00.001-08:002014-02-17T10:55:02.058-08:00Do We Really Love? Part One<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<style> <!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Times New Roman";
panose-1:0 2 2 6 3 5 4 5 2 3;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:50331648 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-parent:"";
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijOUlJJlGxfpqct3aOW_pFL62261qhbojQxGIaejwgxwP45J8HvwTY6vk4t3_QwAPmPrFXXiF011rls2MhjoFlHtQaThy7vLR7vHTQ3__PpgGPpZNZQgyyf86TeooIAwQ-i1Dwuw/s1600/1:12+Marin+Headlands.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijOUlJJlGxfpqct3aOW_pFL62261qhbojQxGIaejwgxwP45J8HvwTY6vk4t3_QwAPmPrFXXiF011rls2MhjoFlHtQaThy7vLR7vHTQ3__PpgGPpZNZQgyyf86TeooIAwQ-i1Dwuw/s1600/1:12+Marin+Headlands.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Having grown up in a pastor’s home and seeing young people
in the throes of decisions, homes in the heat of the battle, and individuals
daily, weekly, monthly embraced in decision-making that will affect the rest of
their lives, I submit this first article in this series as a specific question
directed to members of IFB churches.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
IFB churches and schools are regularly given harsh criticism
from external sources, but within the own local church proper, no lack of
charity should ever exist!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
yet, I have watched happy, contented, thankful people grow angry and bitter
over time and leave within a decade (or less!) of their arrival in such a
church.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We are negatively evaluated for our school handbooks, dress
codes, and demerit systems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Authorities are criticized for harshness, discipline, and a “lack of
mercy.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, while critics come
in all forms, this post deals specifically with those within a congregation.
Rarely do the preacher’s critics take seriously the command given in Romans
12:9, “Let love be without dissimulation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The above verse commands that members in the local church
body love with no difference between those we prefer and those we don’t
naturally get along with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hatred
is never toward an individual but to evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good is that to which we cleave—not to criticisms,
irritation, or complaining.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If every believer in an assembly determined to practice
biblical, self-sacrificing love (as described in I Corinthians 13), that church
would be a completely different place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The local community would be transformed; homes would be restored; lives
would be brought back together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Believers and families within every assembly must practice biblical
charity.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The kind of love depicted in Romans 12:9 encompasses the
following:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No negative discussions
at home about people at church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No
talking behind people’s backs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No
storing up frustration or anger in the heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The same kind of love, appreciation, and kindness evidenced
to every member of that body of Christ, whether it be kindness toward the
person with occasional body odor, or the woman who is overweight, or the guy
who talks too loudly in the lobby. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Truth is one thing, but charity must serve as the mouth of
truth:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>if we speak words of
criticism we must utter them from a heart of love, as described in I
Corinthians 13.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Love is patient,
kind, not easily provoked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Love
thinks the best of others, does not plot evil, rejoices—yes, rejoices—in
truth!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems the loudest voices
are often the critics, but that need not be the case!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God’s people can cleave to good, rejoicing because of
truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything that is good and
godly they can hold dear.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“If you love me,” Jesus said in His final sermon to His
disciples before His crucifixion, “keep my commandments.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, how we must embrace the biblical
injunctions to love, which sprinkle themselves generously throughout God’s
Word, which evidence the loving heart of God!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Defining love God’s way is a task completed through His
Book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s an incredibly rich experience,
looking at and studying these verses on biblical, self-sacrificing, agape
love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But take just one passage,
John 14:15, part of Jesus’ final words to His disciples before His crucifixion,
and see that love is obedience in action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If every member of every IFB church took only one of God’s commands
today and decided to live by it—just one—practicing it now and continuing in a
regular, consistent manner, our assemblies would be transformed!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Consider Romans 12:10, for
example:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Be kindly affectioned
one to another in brotherly love; in honor preferring one another.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The phrase, “kindly affectioned” is used only once in the
Bible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thayer defines it as </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
1) the mutual love of parents and
children and wives and husbands</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
2) loving affection, prone to love,
loving tenderly </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
2a) chiefly of the reciprocal
tenderness of parents and children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What an endearing, tender description this phrase offers us
concerning our familial ties specifically to those within the local church
assembly! This is a heart attitude—a spirit of kindness that envelops our
innermost being and manifests itself outwardly toward everyone with whom we
come into contact!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Practically speaking, then, others within the church will be
the objects of good words, which make the heart glad. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will be givers, not takers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will be caring, surrendered,
joy-filled individuals toward every believer!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“In honor preferring one another,” Romans 12:10 concludes.
God says we are literally to prefer others within the local assembly to
ourselves. Many critics of “standards” or “preferences” seem to indicate that
their opinion is as important as God’s own Word, but that idea is not taught by
Romans 12:10.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s so much easier to point fingers at others than to blame
ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember literally putting tally
marks on my notes paper at one time for every grammatical error a preacher made
in his sermon!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My focus was on his
mistakes, not on my need to embrace truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In his poem , “To A Louse:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Seeing One On A Lady's Bonnet, At Church,” Robert Burns,
the Scottish poet, wrote words that, without the Scottish dialect, read…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
“What a gift God would give us—to
see ourselves as others see us!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
It would free many blunders from us
and foolish notions.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
What airs in dress and gait would
leave us, and even devotion!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The fine Miss Lunardi seemed unsuitable for such a
despicable visitor such as a louse upon her person, but sure enough, out from
underneath her very pristine bonnet, a louse crawled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Burns saw it, the poor Miss Lunardi completely oblivious
to such a show. While she seemed to assume she manifested flawlessness, Burns
saw her inadequacies.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If we perceived the error within our own way, that our
opinions are not infallible, that our criticisms may be incorrect, that our
perspective is not as important as God’s Word—our demeanor would change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our pride would
crumble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our love would grow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let us prefer our
brothers and sisters within the church to ourselves, live by God’s book,
embrace His commands, and show true, biblical love one toward another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In every situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regardless of our own natural
inclinations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s love.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
--Heather Ross </div>
</div>
Thomas & Heather Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06426641892169880740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20324456.post-10162760438663259472014-02-09T20:31:00.001-08:002014-02-09T20:49:13.295-08:00The Female Fundamentalist: A Re-Introduction <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEX-y7j3lV9rUs1_x5U2u8d74G8cyx6qtUm3znNShTQWPeCmSKqfXBessMm3VuCQx8X9P_6m8IiNcyRryoq0WH_-5y5ogxkp8Bzd_muZUZLkUEm7fdhVILeY7Wyf-QtJahsx-krw/s1600/06:10+rock+falls+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEX-y7j3lV9rUs1_x5U2u8d74G8cyx6qtUm3znNShTQWPeCmSKqfXBessMm3VuCQx8X9P_6m8IiNcyRryoq0WH_-5y5ogxkp8Bzd_muZUZLkUEm7fdhVILeY7Wyf-QtJahsx-krw/s1600/06:10+rock+falls+2.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Times New Roman";
panose-1:0 2 2 6 3 5 4 5 2 3;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:50331648 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-parent:"";
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s been a long time since I’ve posted anything on this
blog, but I think that, after over nearly a decade has passed, it’s about time to
get started.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not that the passage
of time means something should get a restart but in this particular case, as
the years elapse, my “voice” has begun to develop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(That’s a term I heard back at a writers’ conference—that
sometimes the writer’s voice inside of you needs time to develop, grow, and be
nurtured before you have something worth saying.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’d be nice to think that I could speak more to the point
now than I did when I started blogging, that the issues that troubled me then
have been worked out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact,
grey issues have melded into closer shades of white and black and a new
perspective has emerged in the several twelve-months that have separated me
from this blog, but I am far from having all the answers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, my colleague Ricci and I will
seek to post once every 7-10 days, to keep this blog a lively journey.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And so again begins our trek toward congruity, the Female Fundamentalist.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Before we continue on our journey, I find it necessary to
define my terms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By “Female
Fundamentalist” I mean these posts will be authored by women in an IFB church,
an independent, fundamental Baptist church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Historically, fundamentalism acquired its name in the early
part of the 20th century when G. Campbell Morgan, R. A. Torrey, and sixty-two
others wrote in defense of the “fundamentals” of the faith in dozens of
essays.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is essentially the
link to the term <i>fundamental</i><span style="font-style: normal;">, a term
which speaks of the rudiments of belief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Unfortunately, this term <i>fundamental</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> is confusing in a number of ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ultimate question in fundamentalism
is: what are the fundamentals?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Several groups within fundamentalism proper will argue over which
fundamentals are important and which are not, making </span><i>fundamentalism</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> more of a misnomer than an accurate depiction of our
circle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another confusion is the link of this term in our society
with radical movements, such as radical Islam.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A “fundamentalist” Muslim believes in the fundamentals of
the Koran.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A fundamentalist Christian
believes in the fundamentals of the Bible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When God says love your enemies, the Koran says, <i>"Believers, make war on the infidels who dwell around you. Deal firmly
with them." (Surah 9:121)</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both the fundamentalist Muslim and
the fundamentalist Christian take their holy book literally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The problem is, the Koran and the Bible teach radically different ideologies concerning, among many other things, the treatment of one's enemies; this example merely illustrates one polarizing "fundamental" difference between the two belief systems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, because of its literal interpretation of Scripture, Fundamentalism has been bashed because secularists consider such a
position extreme.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I would
argue that everyone in our culture is a fundamentalist about something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You must be a fundamentalist linguist
to put together the rudiments of a sentence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You must be a fundamental historian to grasp an overview of
world history and cultures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
the list could continue. For a Christian, whose entire belief system is rooted in Scripture, what better place to be a "Fundamentalist" than about the interpretation of this fundamental book?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So the fundamentals of belief are needful, but which ones are
important are argued over time and again; thus, the term “Fundamentalist” in
this blog will essentially embrace those elements of Christian culture
within conservative IFB churches.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth,” states I Cor.
8:1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So much has been said to
bash IFB churches, and this blog is intended to do nothing of the sort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The evaluations offered in this blog
will, by God’s grace, include edifying words that seek to build up the body of
Christ and fellow believers.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Opinions are offered understanding that meekness is
necessary for any and every reproof (Gal. 6:1).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Personal accounts are given to illustrate the authors’ own
identification with struggles within IFB circles.<br />
--Heather Ross </div>
</div>
Thomas & Heather Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06426641892169880740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20324456.post-1156016486743639572006-08-19T12:40:00.000-07:002006-08-29T20:34:28.646-07:00Another View from the Back of the ChurchFundamentalist thought concerning the back row can sometimes be interpreted as, “Back row means backslidden.” Teasing about the “Back Row Baptist” is fairly common. We have all wondered where that person in the second to last row disappeared to before the end of the service. <br /><br />The question is, why does the back row have such a bad rap? Why such stigma and stereotype?<br /><br />As my fellow blogger humorously elaborated upon, there are multitudes of distractions when you sit in the back. You can see every sleepy head nodding. You can see every moment of a parent’s disciplining. You can see, and maybe hear, those two teen girls whispering and giggling.<br /><br />And all of these things are taking place between you and the pulpit. According to Ephesians 4:11-12, God has given His church pastors to perfect the saints and edify the body. These ministries of the pastor are certainly going to be hindered if the saint cannot focus on Word of God that the pastor is faithfully proclaiming. If that believer cannot block out all the activity going on in front of him and sincerely pay attention, it will certainly limit his spiritual growth. This giving and receiving of the Word is part of true worship. Worship can become more like work when one chooses to sit in the back.<br /><br />Speaking of worship, have you ever tried to sing in the back? It is terrible. You can only hear yourself. It seems like no one around is singing at all. And for me, that is a very bad thing. Put me on the third row, left hand side, aisle seat, and I can sing praise to God with the glorious sounds of a congregation that loves God surrounding me.<br /><br />But wait, that beautiful sound comes from behind me. So herein lies the problem. Not everyone can sit in the front four pews. Someone, unfortunately, has to sit in the back. Right?<br /><br />The stigma and stereotype come from the people who choose to sit in the back. Let’s be honest, when was the last time you saw young people goofing around in the second row of the church? No, the ones who want to cause trouble sit in the back. If you want to sneak out during the invitation, where are you going to sit? Fourth row by the window? Nope, the back. If you do not really want to hear what your pastor has to say, it is much easier to ignore him from the back of the room. Part of fundamentalism is that we believe the Bible teaches that what is going on in our soul, in our spiritual life, is going to reflect itself in our actions. One of the actions that just might be affected by our spiritual condition is where we choose to sit in church. Maybe we should each examine ourselves to see if we are in the right seat.<br /><br />The solution to the problem of the back row is this: everyone in the whole church building should behave as if they are sitting in the front row, even if they are sitting in the very back. All, young and old alike, should join together in a joyful sobriety that would make all seats in the house equally desirable. And then maybe, just maybe, we could all change seats every once in a while. But then we might have to give up “our pew.” Horrors! What if someone steals it while I am away! I know some would think that way, but really, if the whole congregation, from front to back and side to side, had the same earnest spirit, no messing around, no passing notes, no slipping out early, there would be no problem with the back row. The stereotype and stigma could be cast off, and all pews would be regarded with equal status.<br /><br />But, this will not be accomplished without organization. Therefore, I call for a committee to revolutionize seating in the fundamentalist world. It will not be easy, but the battle for Pew Rights must start somewhere. Let it start with me. I call for all serious fundamentalists to remove themselves from the third row, left side, aisle seat (Where all good fundamentalists sit. It is a myth that they sit in the front row.), and go sit in the back! Maybe not the very back, but venture towards the back. And when you do so, behave yourself. And sing. And pay attention. And encourage others to do the same. Let The Pew Revolution begin!Riccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17418181203537501771noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20324456.post-1151905347513409132006-07-02T22:35:00.000-07:002006-07-02T22:42:27.516-07:00The Culture of Praise, Part Two<div align="left"> <strong>"The Sea of Joy":</strong> <strong>What Grace Sees and Where Praise Abounds<br /></strong><br />The grace of God, extended to the humble soul, makes such vistas as what Spurgeon calls the “sea of joy” daily and vital parts of our worship. Ephesians 1:11 reminds: "All things are yours, for ye are Christ's and Christ is God's.” <br /><br />“Reach the bottom of Christ's sea of joy,” Spurgeon wrote in his <em>Morning by Morning</em> entry on this verse, “and then hope to understand the bliss which God hath prepared for them that love Him. Overleap the boundaries of Christ's possessions, and then dream of a limit to the fair inheritance of the elect.”<br /><br /><strong>The Ocean of Joy: an Allegory</strong><br /><br />Jedediah swam on, passing estuaries laden with spawning fish; crossing uninhabited coral reefs glistening in the sunlight; and making his way amidst underground mountain ranges, their virgin rock jutting with magnificent carvings. This ocean’s undeniable splendor spelled victory for the young boy, who had searched high and low for some degree of imperfection. Though he had scoured the ocean floor, square inch by square inch, exploring night and day, regardless of weather conditions, Jedediah’s quest for equivocation ended in emptiness every time. <br /><br />At the boy’s request, Jedediah’s father had even sent out search teams—parties of ten to twelve who left every hour on the hour—to examine this amazing phenomenon of nature. They, too, arrived at the same conclusion: this ocean was magnificent, abounding in perfect bliss, where any of the Master’s servants might come to refresh themselves in its flawless splendor. <br /><br />The ocean, over-laden as it was in wondrous beauty, had its counterfeits, masked behind all sorts of lovely facades, which tempted unwary ocean-going travelers, causing them to wonder about the ocean’s own authenticity; hence, Jedediah’s search. The boy now passed another swimmer and yelled, “Imagine, this is all ours, for our Master owns it!” <br /><br />The other swimmer gave him a thumbs-up, saying, “I got a little hung up in that crazy lake back there.”<br /><br />Jedediah looked back to where the young man pointed. A green lake, sparkling like a thousand diamonds in the sunlight, with the most lovely of plants at the water’s edge, offered refreshment, like the ocean. Jedediah squinted to read the sign posted in front: “Come and enjoy the Lake of Luring,” it read. “Don’t battle giant waves! See for yourself this wonder of nature.” <br /><br />“I was very attracted to the sweet-smelling flowers outside the Lake,” the boy said. “And I really liked the part about not fighting giant waves. Even though I’d heard there were counterfeits in these parts, I didn’t expect any to be so close to the Ocean of Joy. This one seemed real, so I tried it.”<br /><br />“What happened?” asked Jedediah, who was now treading water.<br /><br />“A lot,” answered the boy, pushing wet hair back from his face. “The sweet smell seemed to lull me to sleep while I was swimming. Before I knew, it, I was gasping for water, choking for air. That’s when I cried to the Master of the Seas. Before I knew it, He had deposited me back onto dry land, and there I sat for what seemed like hours pulling out of my arm jelly-fish tentacles and sea urchin needles that my enemies had left behind.”<br /><br />“Those animals were--in a lake?” Jedediah asked.<br /><br />“Hard as it is to believe, yes. It was really a salty sea, you know.” Here the boy showed Jedediah the damage that had been done to his arm. There was no doubt: something very real had attacked him. <br /><br />Jedediah’s new friend continued: “The sweetness I smelled actually led to poison tentacles in my arm, but the Master saved me from complete ruination. You know, as I was sitting on the beach, pulling out those prickly things, I looked up into the sky and noticed the Faithfulness Stack—you know when all those clouds pile high, one on top of the other and remind us of how our Master is just waiting to shower His servants with blessings? Well, it was just the encouragement I needed.” <br /><br />“The Master encouraged me today, too,” Jedediah said, as he and his new friend walked across the sandy shoreline and sat down. Slowly, Jedediah opened his closed fist. The sunlight above caught a reflection of the glistening gem he held and scattered its beauty in several directions. <br /><br />“The pearl of perfect peace!” his new friend exclaimed.<br /><br />“It was in a clam I located just outside the coral sands,” Jedediah said. “If you want one, you can get as many as you like: there were several more where this comes from.”<br /><br />“Isn’t it awesome to think we have such riches available to us at all times?” Jedediah’s new friend, whose name he learned was Jacob, said. “We can be right near Luring Lake”<br /><br />“Or Desert Depression—“ added Jedediah.<br /><br />“Or Vanity Valley,” said Jacob,<br /><br />“Or Faithlessness Fort,” they said, looking at each other knowingly, “And simply call to the Master in humility."</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">Within milliseconds, we can be right here, basking in the glory of the riches of His grace, claiming His promise of the Ocean of Joy,” Jacob finished.<br /><br />“Yes, thanks for the reminder,” Jedediah said. We’re only a fraction of a second away from what is rightfully ours, through Christ. What riches are ours because of our inheritance in Christ!”<br /><br />“Well, let’s go get those pearls!” Jacob said, heading for the ocean.<br /><br />“Make it there first!” Jedediah challenged.<br /><br />And they were off, diving into the Ocean of Joy once again for yet another glimpse of the riches of the glory of their inheritance as saints in Christ.</div>Thomas & Heather Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06426641892169880740noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20324456.post-1151646882719926902006-06-29T22:47:00.000-07:002006-06-29T22:54:42.740-07:00The Culture of Praise: Part One<div align="center"> <strong>Praise: An Overclouded Issue in Fundamental Christianity</strong></div><div align="left"><strong> </strong><br />So often we in fundamental Christianity are viewed as “problem-spotters.” I suppose this is the case because we are known to take definitive stands on many issues. Because of a very “black-and-white” approach to what is truth, fundamentalists can tend to disagree with many people. This tendency can turn into what is viewed as contentious behavior. Whether “contentiousness” is a label or a tendency, it seems that this description often overshadows the culture of praise among fundamental Christians.<br /><br />Truth is a very important aspect to biblical Christianity. We cannot forego aspects of the truth and “compromise” just to get along. But a very vital part of standing for this truth is practicing it, living it out in our daily lives. One truth that seems to be eclipsed in fundamental Christianity today is the command to praise—given literally hundreds of times in the Word of God. I wonder how many of us that term ourselves “fundamental Christians” could be viewed as those who regularly and habitually offer praise to God? <br /><br />The Bible makes clear that praise is important to God. Hebrews 13:5 states: “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” I find it interesting that praise is considered a sacrifice. Fundamental Christians often hear much about self-sacrifice and surrender (of our bodies, the temple of God’s Holy Spirit, for example). While surrender is profitable, we cannot forego the sacrifice of our spirits (attitudes), which are God’s, as well. <br /><br />Our attitude may say, “Forget it.” <br /><br />Praise says, “Embrace it.” <br /><br />Our attitude may say, “No thanks.” <br /><br />Praise says, “Thanks.” <br /><br />When I praise God, I am sacrificing my right to myself to respond how I FEEL like responding and am instead submitting to the way of God, which is “perfect.” <br /><br />One of the numerous praise psalms in the Word of God is Psalm 113, which begins with this rousing call: “Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD.”<br /><br />In his commentary on Psalm 113, Matthew Henry says, “This psalm…is designed to promote the great and good work of praising God.” In the next few paragraphs, then, I’d like to take a moment to discuss this “great and good work.” <br /><br />Imagine making the “work of praising God” an integral part of our moment-by-moment experience with Him! The old hymn says, “Sing praise to God, Who reigns above, the God of all creation…” What a testimony we could be to the world, simply by embracing the attitude of praise! <br /><br />Matthew Henry discusses another beautiful result of praising God when he states: “…Those who are much in praising God themselves will court others to it, both because they find the weight of the work, and that there is need of all the help they can fetch in (there is employment for all hearts, all hands, and all little enough), and because they find the pleasure of it, which they wish all their friends may share in.”<br /><br /><strong>Praise God for His Humility</strong></div><strong><div align="left"><br /></strong>The psalm reminds us that we should praise God because of Who He is. “The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.” The psalmist rhetorically questions: “Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high, Who <strong>humbleth</strong> himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!” Our high God, Creator of Heaven and earth, <strong>humbles</strong> Himself to look upon us, to attend to all that is in Heaven and earth and many times over, too! (See Psalm 40:5.)<br /><br />Next are articulated our God’s <strong>humble</strong> acts: “He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people. He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD.”<br /><br />The fact that my God should so <strong>humble</strong> Himself as to behold my life reminds me of the principle from James that God gives grace to the <strong>humble</strong>. It’s a simple principle so hard to embrace for the carnal mind. When God gives grace, we, in turn, get His perspective. When we have His perspective, we are enabled to see EVERY aspect of life as emanating from His own gracious hand. We are suddenly enlightened to see His <strong>humility </strong>in working in divine providence on our behalf. We quickly remove “Chance” or “Self” or “Humanism” from the pedestal and replace “Jesus Christ,” the only true God, as Lord of our every moment. As at salvation, we crown Him the Lord of each second of the day, and He supplies continued grace to walk with Him as we habitually <strong>humble</strong> ourselves before Him.<br /><strong><br />Grace: The Means Whereby We Can Praise</strong></div><div align="left"><strong><br /></strong>At salvation was the first extension of God’s eternal grace to my soul. Now I can live experiencing this grace daily as I moment by moment <strong>humble</strong> myself before the Great God of Heaven, Who <strong>humbled</strong> Himself to come to live on earth and die for me, the Great God Who <strong>humbles</strong> Himself to look at things in my life, Who blesses me above measure and delights in fulfilling the desire of the righteous! <br /><br />Note the reason He helps the poor and needy (seen in verse 8): “that He might set them as kings and princes before His people.” This is so beautiful! Every salvation experience is a “rags to riches” story, for in humility, we recognize our fallen state, make Christ Lord of our lives, and He lifts us up to be kings and priests with His own dear Son! <br /><br />We deserve nothing so amazing and should hence show forth His praises at all times! Look around! We are kings and priests with Christ! We have ALL of the riches of His grace! May we as fundamental Christians glory in His indescribable, priceless treasures that are available to us each moment! <br /><br />Claiming to live and practice all of the Bible, to defend it, to uphold its words and commandments, fundamental Christians should find as an integral part of our lives this aspect of praise. Not only are there hundreds of commands to praise God in the Bible, but praise is the [super]natural response of regeneration and the evidence of God’s sanctifying grace in our lives!<br /><br /></div>Thomas & Heather Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06426641892169880740noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20324456.post-1136251484643181432006-01-02T17:08:00.000-08:002006-01-02T17:24:45.166-08:00To Justify or Condemn: A Forest FableFlying high above the Wisconsin prairie, a lone crow directed its course. From his mouth hung a brilliant cluster of orange berries, accentuated colorfully against the dismal autumn landscape. A sugar maple, dressed in its yearly multi-hued coat, welcomed the bird as he approached; but the energetic creature, far too busy for such niceties, merely deposited his cargo in his home on Maple Branch and departed for another round trip.<br /><br />When the last streaks of daylight faded from the western sky, a veritable heap of mountain ash berries dotted the otherwise homely nest, adding a jewel-like radiance to the little abode; but later that night, howling winds and pelting rain disturbed the bird's cozy home. Three-dimensional orange dots, once safely imbedded hours before, cascaded to the ground below, joining the fury that was Rain in its gravity-aided race downward.<br /><br />In the days and months that followed, the tiny mountain ash berries took different routes to their final destinations. Several, blown far from the crow's nest, were found by woodland animals and eaten. Others lay scattered about the forest floor like dispersed gemstones, adding welcome radiance to the otherwise dim woodland. Yet others the bird meticulously located, determinedly affixing them to their proper positions in his nest home, where he would later treat himself to such edible wall fixtures. Amongst the many that were transported by the crow that autumn day, only one seed survived to tell its adventures.<br /><br />I found that seed (now a magnificent tree) but twenty paces from my Wisconsin cabin. The wooded lot, in desperate need of sunlight at the time, caused me to be sorely tempted to end the life of this now stately Mountain Ash. But its colorful springtime blossoms and bewitching fall fruit cautioned me against such a deed. And on winter evenings, when the air is perfectly frigid and oxygen in my cabin is at a minimum because of the depleting force of my blazing fireplace, I often meander out of doors to catch sight of that tree which was, long ago, only a possibility.<br /><br />It was upon these things that I meditated one winter’s afternoon and, happening upon Matthew 12 in my New Testament, proceeded to embrace in the corridors of conscience: “A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”—Matthew 12:35-37 (KJV).<br /><br />Like the tree’s magnificent manufacture of thousands of berries each autumn, I produce dozens of word-seeds every day and am, in fact, responsible for each of them. As the crow’s mountain ash berries had been absconded, some by beasts and others by birds and the natural process of decomposition, my words, also, are often lost to the elements. But unlike them, each will one day require reckoning. The day will come when I shall stand before the Almighty Judge, accounting for every word, whether spoken or written. <br /><br /> And I prayed, “Lord, let my words be only those which justify, evidencing Thy work, which has made me righteous by no cause of my own. Amen.”Thomas & Heather Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06426641892169880740noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20324456.post-1136235673930660062006-01-02T13:00:00.000-08:002006-01-02T13:01:13.946-08:00Congruity: What Really CountsWhat is congruity? According to Webster’s, it is primarily “the condition, quality, or fact of being congruous; specifically, (a) agreement; harmony; (b) fitness; appropriateness” and, “in geometry, exact coincidence; said of two or more figures.”<br /><br />Congruity to the Word of God and to the Son of God is, or should be, the goal of every proclaimed biblical fundamentalist. In the study and use of geometry, congruity is both significant and useful. Many truths can be derived about figures, lines, and angles based on their relative congruity. Segment lengths and angle measures can be known, sometimes only by likeness, when statements regarding congruity are made. The side-angle-side axiom is a perfect example of this. It is really quite simple and logically beautiful. Yet this principle can be basically explained thus: if two geometric figures that are exactly the same are laid atop one another, then they are congruent. If they are not the same, then they cannot be congruent.<br /><br />Of course, the Bible does not use the word “congruity.” However, I believe the idea of congruity fits well with a few biblical principles. One is the idea of conformity. Romans 8:29 states that believers are to be “conformed (similar, made like to) to the image of His Son.” The well-known passage in Romans 12:1-2 tells the saints not to be similar to the world but to be changed by a constant renewing of the mind. This thought is also presented in 2 Corinthians 3:18. Paul writes, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the LORD.” It is clear from examining these passages that the Spirit works transformation to the likeness of Christ as we behold the Son in His Word. I think that aiming for congruity to Christ is biblical. What joy it would be to, in the geometric sense, lay my life on Christ’s and have it be exactly the same--congruent.<br /><br />Therefore, let every fundamentalist “behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” Let us focus on the things Jesus focused on, setting aside our own ideas and desires. Let us abide in and love Him by keeping His commandments, setting aside thwarting sin. Let us show the world true discipleship through fervent love for and service to the brethren, laying aside enmity and strife. Let us aim for congruity to Christ.Riccihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17418181203537501771noreply@blogger.com1